CARBON REDUCTION AND ENERGY GENERATION
this by providing 24/7 remote monitoring. We transform raw data and information from organisations lacking in-house expertise into intelligent insights using nearly 500 AI-powered algorithms. Automating tasks that previously needed human intervention frees up valuable resources for other areas, and supports data-driven investment decisions, ensuring that limited capital is used where it is most needed. This digitalisation enhances estate operations through a better understanding of equipment performance and condition, as well as future planning. While challenges exist, designing all-electric hospitals is achievable with the collaboration of various stakeholders and a commitment to sustainable practices.
The ‘all-electric’ hospital’s infrastructure has been designed to include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, ‘aligning with international directives for public buildings’. With approximately 2,200 parking spaces, 15% are equipped with EV chargers, with an additional 10 dedicated to emergency response vehicles. On-site solar PV generation will help lower the electrified hospital’s total power demand.
Local generation and distributed power supply models address infrastructure challenges, and create a sustainable and self-sufficient energy model, benefiting not just the NHS, but the entire country.
An electrical switchroom. Overall, after electrifying fossil fuel-dependent loads and upgrading the infrastructure to support EV chargers and solar PV generation, the total grid capacity demand of the electrified hospital has increased from the original 16 MVA to 32 MVA.
Digitalisation for visibility across your estate The increasing trend toward electrification is adding complexity to healthcare operations, and – like many organisations – the NHS will need to adopt technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to support and enhance existing staffing and solutions. Aligning digitalisation efforts across the hospital infrastructure with broader healthcare developments is crucial, and applies to both legacy systems and new constructions. This shift affects everyone involved – from patients and visitors to staff and suppliers, and positively impacts decarbonisation, sustainability goals, and overall efficiency, by providing insights through data measurement and collection. Connecting various data sources, and establishing digital infrastructure, opens opportunities for improved efficiency and operational insight – including into how the facility is managed by the Facilities Management team, logistics, internal transport of goods, and scheduling of assets and activities. It also influences future adaptability. For example, if a new treatment requires redesigning pathways, using a digital twin or AI for scenario planning can help the key parties involved understand the impact of changes to the system. Digitalisation offers visibility into assets, people, activities, and pathways, improving understanding, and highlighting areas for potential improvement. However, a shortage of digital expertise within NHS Trusts presents a challenge. Our Connected Services Hub addresses
n The all-electric hospital: a case study This section of the article presents a theoretical case study on how electrification affects the power needs of an 800-bed acute care hospital in a Mediterranean climate. The hospital, which serves 500,000 patients annually, initially relied on a combination of electrical and fossil fuel-dependent infrastructure. Our goal was to replace gas and diesel systems with electric alternatives, reducing the facility’s carbon footprint, and enhancing energy efficiency. Initially, the hospital’s infrastructure included a 16 MVA electrical power capacity distributed across eight sub- stations, with back-up power from diesel generators, and gas-fired boilers for heating. The shift to electrification required a detailed analysis of the hospital’s energy needs. We focused on replacing the gas-fired heating and domestic hot water (DHW) boilers, which accounted for a significant portion of the hospital’s energy consumption. To achieve this, we introduced a combination of water- to-water (WTW) heat pumps, air-to-water (ATW) heat pumps, and electric boilers. This new system is designed to provide 10.5 MW of hot water for heating and 4 MW for DHW. The configuration includes heat pumps connected in series with electric boilers as a back-up, ensuring reliability during peak demand periods or emergencies. In addition to heating, we addressed the electrification
of kitchen and laundry services. This change required an estimated 2 MVA of additional power, acknowledging the enhanced efficiency of modern electric appliances. The transition supports the hospital’s efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and minimise carbon emissions.
Re-designing electrical infrastructure and integrating renewables The electrification of gas-fired systems increased the hospital’s electrical power capacity needs to 27 MVA. Next, we redesigned the infrastructure to include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, aligning with international directives for public buildings. With approximately 2,200 parking spaces, 15% are equipped with EV chargers, and an additional 10 EV chargers are dedicated exclusively to emergency response vehicles. A load management system is implemented to efficiently distribute power based on real-time demands. In total, the EV chargers added 8.7 MVA to the hospital’s power needs. We also integrated renewable energy solutions
by installing on-site rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, providing 2 MVA of power. This effort reduces grid dependency, and supports non-essential loads. Pairing the solar PV with a 16 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) allows for peak load shaving, and acts as back-up power during outages, supplying an extra 4 MW when needed. Traditionally, hospitals rely on diesel generators for back-up power. To reduce emissions, we explored
60 Health Estate Journal January 2025
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